Air distributor valve



Aug 6, 1963 c. A. DAVIDSON 3,099,949

AIR DISTRIBUTOR VALVE Filed Feb. 19, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 E gi-:

124 Mz-JMJ,

A 7- roR/vfrs Y Aug- 6, 1963 c. A. DAVIDSON 3,099,949

AIR DISTRBUToR VALVE Filed Feb. 19, 1962 2 sheets-sheet 2 5%7 1ML d M47 United States Patent O 3,099,949 AIR DISUTGR VALVE Charles A. Davidson, Mount Clemens, Mich., assigner to Thermotank, Inc., a corporation of Michigan Filed Feb. 19, 1962, Ser. No. 174,071 14 Claims. (Cl. 98-40) This invention relates to an improved construction for a valve unit for use at an air discharge opening to control the direction in which air is discharged therefrom, and to also control the volume of air discharged therefrom. The valve of the invention is particularly suited for use with relatively long, narrow discharge yopenings such as are now being employed in certain types of air distributing systems.

A valve unit of the invention includes a housing having a cylindrical chamber formed therein and incorporating means by which the housing may be mounted at the discharge end of an air duct or other structure for conveying air, with the axis of the cylindrical chamber extending transversely to the end of the air duct. Inlet and outlet openings are formed in the housing in oppositely disposed relation to the yaxis of the cylindrical chamber so that the openings are separated by a pair of arcuate chamber wall portions. A valve member is located within the cylindrical chamber and mounted by suitable means for rotation on lthe axis thereof. This valve member has an arcuate wall engaging side or face having an area not less than one of the yinlet and outlet openings in the housing and not greater than the area of either of the arcuate wall portions of the chamber.

The valve member further includes an oppositely directed lair dellecting face or side with the maximum thickness of the valve member across its sides in -a direction transversely of the chamber being substantially less than the chamber diameter. Means are provided for rot-ating the Valve member in the chamber between positions in which the air deflecting side thereof lies adjacent to and in spaced relation with either of the chamber wall portions and a third position in which the arcuate side thereof covers `one of the inlet and outlet openings.

In the tirst two positions an arcuate passage is formed between the `air deliecting side of the valve and the chamber wall portion to which it is adjacent, causing air owing from the inlet opening through this arcuate passage to be discharged tangentially off the chamber wall portion through the outlet opening in a direction to one side or the other thereof depending upon which of the two positions the valve is placed.

Another preferred feature is to provide the valve member with an air passage formed through the valve member between the sides thereof, the valve member being positionable with this air passage disposed between and in alignment with the inlet and outlet openings so that air can flow through the unit in straight line fashion.

A preferred distributor valve uni-t of the invention includes a plurality of valves of the preferred type mounted in a housing provided with a corresponding number of cylindrical chambers formed in parallel side-by-side relation. This type of unit enables the air discharge pattern to be varied over a wide range in both direction and volume by individually adjusting the position of the valve members.

`Other features and advantages of the construction of the invention will be brought out in connection with the following description of the presently preferred representative examples thereof shown in the accompanying drawings which consist of the following views.

FIGURE 1, a longitudinal sectional view along the center line of a distributor valve unit including a portion ice of an air duct to which the unit is attached, taken as indicated by the line 1-1 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 2, a transverse Asectional elevation taken as indicated by the yline 2 2 of FIGURE 1 showing t-he valve position for straight through air diffusion;

FIGURES 3, 4, 'and 5, transverse sectional elevations similar yto FIGURE 2 but respectively showing the valve position for left-side air diifusion, right-side air diffusion and air shut-oif;

FIGURE 6, a sectional plan view taken as indicated by the line 6-6 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 7, a transverse sectional elevation similar to FIGURE 2 but showing a modiiied form of unit which incorporates a plurality of valves in side-by-side relation;

FIGURE 8, a transverse sectional elevation of the unit of FIGURE 7 taken as indicated by the line 8 8 of FIGURE 9 which `in turn is a longitudinal sectional elevation taken as indicated on the line 9-9 of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE l0, a fragmentary exploded perspective view showing one end of a valve member of the construction of FIGURES 7 9; and

FIGURE 1l, a transverse sectional elevation similar to FIGURE 7 but showing a modified form of construction.

Referring iirst to FIGURES 1-6, the air distributor unit illustrated therein consists of a housing 12 having inner ange portions 14 for engaging the discharge end of an air supply member such as the duct 16, and outer transversely extending flanges 18 for registry with surfaces bordering an opening 19 in a wall or ceiling 20.

The housing 12 is formed preferably by extruding, with a continuous longitudinally extending cylindrical chamber 22. An inlet opening 24 and an outlet opening 26 communicate with the chamber 22, these openings being disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the chamber. Inlet opening 24 consists of a series of elongated slots 28, best shown in FIGURES 1 and 6, separated by ribs 29, and the outlet opening 26 is a continuous slot having inwardly chamfered side walls 3d. Arcuate wall portions 32 and 33 of the chamber separate the inlet and outlet openings, extending between adjacent sides thereof.

A valve member 36, having the general shape of a cylindrical segment, is mounted within the cylindrical chamber 22 of the housing by suitable means which permit the valve member to rotate on the `axis of the chamber. As shown in FIGURES 1 and 6, the mounting means consists of a control knob 38 at each end of the housing, each control knob having a cylindrical boss portion 39 which tits sLidably within the cylindrical chamber 22, each knob being secured to the valve member 36 by a screw 40.

The valve member is an extrusion, formed with a continuous longitudinal slot 42, the bottom wall 43 of which is pierced as best shown in FIGURE 1 to form a series of spaced openings -45 separated by transverse Webs 44, the openings constituting an air passage which is centered about the axis of Valve rotation and extends radially thereof. Alongside of the central slot 42, ya pair of arcuate valve faces -46 and 47 slidably engage the cylindrical wall portions of the chamber, these `faces each [having an area which, =as shown in FIGURE 5, is preferably not less than the area of the inlet or the outlet opening in the housing, and which is not greater than the yarea of either of the arcuate valve chamiber wall portions 32 or 33. 'Ilhe inner surfaces of the valve member 36 will be referred to as an air deflecting Aface 50 which extends transversely across the cylindrical valve chamber in spaced relation to the walls thereof `as best shown in FIGURES 3 and 4 so yas to form, in combination with eitherof the arcuate cylindrical chamber wall portions 32 `and 33, an air passage between the -inlet opening 24 and outlet opening 26 when the valve is rotated to either of the positions shown in these views.

As vcan best be seen Vfrom a comparison of FIGURES 2-5, rotation of the valve member '36 inthe housing 12 enables both the volume and direction of fair discharged from the unit to be controlled over a relatively Wide range. In FIGURE 2 vthe valve member is positioned with its central air passage disposed vbetween and in alignment with fthe inlet and outlet openings 2'4 and 26 in lthe housing, resulting in a straight-through iioW of air and discharge thereof in -a direction normal to the outer face of the unit. Rota-tion of the valve 'member 36 to the position shown in FIGURE 3 forms -a curved -air passage through the valve chamber causing air passing therethrough to be vdeilected by the chamber wall portion 33 and the face 500i the valve member and directed laterally through the discharge opening to the left side of the valve unit as viewed in FIGURE 3. Positions of the valve member intermediate that shown in FIGURE 2 and 'that shown in FIGURE 3 will also result in generally left side air distribution but at reduced volume. Right side air distribution is obtained with lthe valve unit in the position shown in FIGURE 4, acurved passage through the valve chamber being yformed between the chamber wall portion 32 and air distributing face 50 of [the valve member. Finally, when the Valve member is positioned as shown in FIGURE 5, air discharge is substantially blocked.

The distributor unit shown in FIGURES 7 to 10 illustrates the wide variety of air distribution patterns that can be obtained by employing multiple valves of the type previously described. Fllhe extruded housing' of this unit incorporates integral inner side `anges 61 to register with an `air conduit 62, outer framing anges A64 and fa pair of cylindrical chambers `65 and 66 extending with their axes in parallel side-by-side relation. Inlet and outlet openings 68-'69 and 70-71 communicate respectively with `the chambers 65 and 66, these openings being formed in the housing in the manner-previously described. A pair of valve members 72 and 73, each similar to the valve member 36 and having central air f passage slots 74, are mounted in the chambers, the mounting means being slightly diderent than that employed in the FIGURES .1-6 construction and consisting simply of rta cylindrical control knob 76 secured to each end of each valve member and slidably received within the cylindrical valve chamber in which its valve member is positioned thereby rotatably mounting the valve member. As shown in FIG- URE 9, 4the outer end face 77 of the con-trol knob does not extend beyond the end of the housing 60 and an end plate 80 having yan outer framing flange 81 is secured to each end of the housing 60 by screws 82 which engage Ythe apertures 83 of the integrally yformed stiiening ribs 84, the end plates 80 thus serving to locate fthe valve members 72 and 73 longitudinally the housing. It Willbe seen that the control knobs 76 of the valve vmembers are accessible through-the discharge openings Operation of each valve member 72 or 73 is identical to that previously described but it can be seen that a much wider range of air distribution patterns can be obtained, from left side distribution, straight through distribution, right side distribution, left and right distribution ror any other combination thereof including off or half oli.

'tral ,air passage can be eliminated along with the cost of providing them, and as a result a more positive Vair shut oit is obtained.

Distributor units of the invention can be employed, -for example, in combined lighting and Ventilating fixtures and in other types of ceiling 'air distribution installations. In addition to the control over the air distribution pattern obtainable, the extruded construction oiers considerable flexibility in building units lto the length or lengths required in a particular installation; and, the construction in general is simpliiied as far as machining and assembly operations 'are concerned.

While preferred embodiments :have been described above in detail, it will be understood that Vnumerous modiiications might be resorted 'to without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in thefollowing claims.

l claim:

l. An lair 'distributor valve comprising a housing, a cylindrical chamber formed in said housing, inlet/and outlet lopenings communicating With said chamber, said inlet opening being spaced from said outlet opening .by a pair of oppositely facing chamberwall portions, Valve means for controlling the direction land 'volume of air discharged through said outlet opening comprising a valve member including an arcuate side -slidably .engageable with said chamber wall portions and having .an area not Iin .excess of one of said wall portions but sufficient to cover one of said inlet and outlet openings, said valve member further including an oppositely directed air deecting side extending between the lextremities of said arcuate side, the maximum Ithickness of said valve member across said sides in a direction transversely of saidchamber being substantially Iless than vthe chamber diameter, Vand :means mounting said valve member for movement von theaxis of said chamber lwhereby said .valve lmember can `selectively moved betweenpositions in which the :air de- Ifleeting side thereof lies in spaced relation -with eitherof said chamber wall pontions Vand in Vwhich vthe 'arcuate side thereof covers one'of said inlet andoutlet'openings.

2. An air distributor valve :according to iclaim `1 ifurther characterized by said valve member` having an airzpassage formed therethroughbetweenthe said fsidesth'ereof, said valve member being selectivelypositionablewith 1said air passage disposed betweenand inalignment rwithsaid inlet and outlet openings.

3. An air distributor valveaccordingto claim -1 .wherein said air deflecting lside of said valve member isformed on an arc Whose radius is approximately equal to the radius of said chamber but-whose center is displaced radially laterally of Ithe axis of 4said chamber towardrthe'said arcuate side of said'valve.

4. An air distributor valve. according to claim l Wherein the ymeans for mounting said valve member include a disk positioned at each end VthereofV inzslidable engagement rwith said chamber and meanssecuiingsaid'valve member to each of said disks.

'5. A-n fair distributor valve according to claim '4 'Wherein said disks each include Van Venlarged portion `located externally of said chamber and engaging an e-nd of, said housing.

6. An air distributor valve according to claim 4in1'- ther characterized by an end platessecured'to each end of said housing and covering the ends of said chamber, at least one of said disks'being laccessiblethrongh said outlet opening.

7. An air distributor valve accordingto claim 'lfurther characterized by said valve member-'consisting offan elongated extrusion in the generalshape of a cylindrical segment the cylindrical porti-on of which is "formed iby said arcuate side andthe other :face of which isformed by said air deflecting side, Ian inwardly directed slotformed lengthwise of said Valve member in the arcuate 'side thereof thereby dividing said arcuate side intoa p-airof chamber wall engaging'taces, 'saidfaceseachlhaving anarea not fless than the area of one of said inlet and outlet openings.

8. An air distributor valve according to claim 7 further characterized by said valve member having -a plurali-ty yof apertures extending between the lbottom o-f said slot and said air defleoting side to -form an air passage through said valve member, said valve member being selectively positionable to locate said air passage between and in alignment with said inlet and outlet openings.

9, An air distributor valve according to claim 8 further characterized yby the said air deflecting side of said valve member being formed on an arc whose radius is approximately equal to the radius of said chamber but whose center is disposed radially laterally of the axis of said chamber toward the said arcuate side :of said valve.

10. An air distributor valve according to claim l1 further characterized by said housing consisting of an elongated extrusion with said chamber extending continuously between the ends thereof, said outlet opening consisting of a slo-t extending continuously between the ends of said extrusion and communicating with said chamber, said inlet openings consisting of 'a plurality of apertures formed through the wall of said extrusion opposite to said slot.

1l. An air discharge control unit comprising a housia plurality of cylindrical chambers formed through said housing from one end to the other thereof in side-by-side relation;

means for securing said housing to an air discharge duct with the axes :of said cylindrical chambers extending normal to the end of said duct;

each of said chambers having inlet and outlet openings extending longitudinally thereof in diametrically opposed relation to the chamber axis whereby said openings are separated by oppositely facing arcuate chamber wall portions; a valve member for each of said chambers;

means mounting each Valve member in its respective chamber for rotation on an axis coincident with the longitudinal axis of such chamber;

each valve member having an air passage formed therein, said air passage being centered on said axis and extending radially thereof so as to be alignalble between said inlet and outlet openings in ione position of rotation :of the valve member, each valve member having a pair of arcuate chamber wall engaging faces located on each side of said passage, said wall engaging lfaces each having an area not greater than that of one of said chamber wall portions, each said valve member having an voppositely directed `arcuate air deflecting face extending between the extremities of said wall engaging faces and spaced from the inner wall of said chamber;

and means for selectively moving each valve member to the following positions: (l) where said passage is `aligned with said inlet and outlet openings thereby directing air in a straight line therebetween Ithrough said passage; (2) where one of said valve wall engaging faces substantially covers one of said openings thereby substantially preventing the passage of air through said chamber; (3) where said valve air deilecting 4face is adjacent one of said chamber arcuate wall portions fthereby fonming an air passage between such arcuate wall portion and said air deiiecting face for directing air around said arcuate wall portion and through said discharge opening in a direction generally tangent to said one arcuate wall portion and laterally of said discharge 6 opening; land (4) where said air deecting face is adjacent the other of said arcuate chamber wall portions thereby forming a passage for directing air around such other arcuate Wall portion thnough said discharge opening in the opposite lateral direction.

12. An air distributor valve according to claim 1 wherein 'the width of the inlet and outlet openings is ap proximately the same and the difference between maximum thickness `of the valve member and the diameter of the cylindrical cham er is approximately the same as the rwidth :of the inlet and outlet openings.

13. An air distributor valve according to claim 1 further characterized by said housing consisting of an elongated extrusion wvith said chamber extending continuously lbetween the ends thereof, one of said inlet and outlet openings consisting of a slot extending continuously between the ends of said extrusion and communicating with said chamber and ythe other of said inlet and outlet openings consisting of la plurality of apertures formed through the wall of said extrusion [opposite to said slot.

14. An air discharge control unit comprising a housing; a cylindrical chamber formed through said housing from one end to the other thereof; said chamber having inlet and outlet openings extending longitudinally thereof in diametrically opposed relation to the Ichamber axis whereby said openings are separated by oppositely facing arcuate chamber wall portions; a valve member for said chamber; means mounting said valve member in the chamber for rotation on an axis coincident with the longitudinal axis of the chamber; said valve member having an air passage formed therein, said air passage being centered on said axis and extending radially thereof so as to be alignable between the inlet and outlet openings in one position of rotation of the valve member, the valve member having a pair of arcuate chamber wall engaging faces located on each side of said passage, said wall engaging faces each having an area not greater than that of one of said arcuate chamber wall portions, said valve member having an oppositely directed air deflecting face extending between the extremities of said wall engaging faces and spaced from the inner wall of said chamber; and means for selectively moving said valve member to the following positions:

(1) where said passage is aligned with said inlet and outlet openings thereby directing air in a straight line therebetween through said passage;

(2) where one of said valve wall engaging faces substantially covers one of said openings thereby substantially preventing the passage of air through said chamber;

(3) where said valve air deflecting face is adjacent one of said chamber arcuate wall portions thereby forming an air passage between such arcuate wall portion and said air deecting face for directing air around said arcuate wall portion and through said discharge opening in a direction generally tangent to said one arcuate wall portion and laterally of said discharge opening; and

(4) where said air deflecting face is adjacent the other of said arcuate chamber wall portions thereby forming a passage for directing air around such other arcuate wall portion through said discharge opening in the opposite lateral direction.

Great Britain Aug. 27, 1943 Germany Feb. 20, 1943 

1. AN AIR DISTRIBUTOR VALVE COMPRISING A HOUSING, A CYLINDRICAL CHAMBER FORMED IN SAID HOUSING, INLET AND OUTLET OPENINGS COMMUNICATING WITH SAID CHAMBER, SAID INLET OPENING BEING SPACED FROM SAID OUTLET OPENING BY A PAIR OF OPPOSITELY FACING CHAMBER WALL PORTIONS, VALVE MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE DIRECTION AND VOLUME OF AIR DISCHARGED THROUGH SAID OUTLET OPENING COMPRISING A VALVE MEMBER INCLUDING AN ARCUATE SIDE SLIDABLY ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID CHAMBER WALL PORTIONS AND HAVING AN AREA NOT IN EXCESS OF ONE OF SAID WALL PORTIONS BUT SUFFICIENT TO COVER ONE OF SAID INLET AND OUTLET OPENINGS, SAID VALVE MEMBER FURTHER INCLUDING AN OPPOSITELY DIRECTED AIR DEFLECTING SIDE EXTENDING BETWEEN THE EXTREMITIES OF SAID ARCUATE SIDE, THE MAXIMUM THICKNESS OF SAID VALVE MEMBER ACROSS SAID SIDES IN A DIRECTION TRANSVERSELY OF SAID CHAMBER BEING SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN THE CHAMBER DIAMETER, AND MEANS MOUNTING SAID VALVE MEMBER FOR MOVEMENT ON THE AXIS OF SAID CHAMBER WHEREBY SAID VALVE MEMBER CAN BE SELECTIVELY MOVED BETWEEN POSITIONS IN WHICH THE AIR DEFLECTING SIDE THEREOF LIES IN SPACED RELATION WITH EITHER OF SAID CHAMBER WALL PORTIONS AND IN WHICH THE ARCUATE SIDE THEREOF COVERS ONE OF SAID INLET AND OUTLET OPENINGS. 